Pete Hypes
Two Sundays, Two House Fires
By
Sep 10, 2008 - 9:03:00 AM

The last two Sunday mornings have yielded house fires in the same company’s first due district. No one was injured in either fire; pets were rescued in the first; families were displaced in both situations. Though I do not know the exact cause of both fires, we can still spend a moment talking about the accidental causes of most fires in residences. Here is a list of causes, during this time of the year, that account for most of the house fires:

· Unattended cooking-related fires.

· Smoking and falling asleep with a lit cigarette.

· Candles that are left burning.

· Fires caused due to some type of electrical malfunction. This type includes fans of all types, power strips, frayed wiring, fuse or breaker panel issues, overloaded outlets and so on.

There are other things that cause fires, but these causes account for the majority of them. So let’s take this list and come up with some solutions:

· Cooking is a full-time job. You must discipline yourself not to get distracted, and you MUST remember to turn off the stove or oven when you leave your home. You would be amazed at the large number of near misses that we go to on a daily basis, where food has been left on for hours.

· If you must smoke, don’t do it in bed, your favorite recliner. or while lying on the couch. Also, be careful where you discard your lit cigarette butts. A cigarette butt discarded in some items that were stored on a porch and were to be sold in a yard sale recently claimed a life in our state.

· Use candles that come in protective containers. Whatever type of candle that you use, you must remember when you go out, blow them out.  

· Concerning electrical issues, you need to see electricity as a constant heat source. The more things that you attempt to power from one outlet, the more heat that is going to be built up. I shared about ceiling fans and bathroom vent fans in a previous article. Power strips or surge protectors have caused fires, so check them regularly. If you are having electrical problems with a lamp or appliance, fix it or replace it.

Both of these house fires could have been potentially fatal if they had occurred at night, or given the right circumstances during the day. It is imperative that you have working smoke alarms, enough to wake you and your family from a dead sleep. You must also have a practiced home escape plan.

Fourth graders will attend the fire safety program delivered by public educators from Chesterfield Fire & EMS. The homework that they come with may possibly prevent a fire in your home. Take them seriously when they seek to do a home fire safety inspection. Once they draft the escape plan for your home, the entire family will be required to be involved in a fire drill. Be proactive, and encourage your children.  



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